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3 Sheets-Sheet 1.. M. WAGNER.

MUSIC CHART (No Model.)

Patented May 9, 1882..

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

M. WAGNER. MUSIC GHART.

No. 257,790. Patented May 9,1882.

UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

MAXlllIlLIAN \VAGNER, OF BERLIN, GERMANY.

MUSIC-CHART.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 257,790, dated May 9, 1882.

Application filed December 24, 1881. (No model.) Patented in England December 27, 1881, and in France December 27, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, MAXIMILIAN WAGNER, a subject of the King of Prussia, residing at Berlin,Prussia,German Empire,haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Teaching Music; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descripti'dn of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

One of the most laborious tasks of the musicteacher consists in explaining to the pupil the keys, notes, scales, accords, transpositions, and scores, and the pupil finds it to be no less a laborious task to commit these to memory.

The object of this invention is to provide the teacher with a ready means to facilitate his work, and the pupil with a visible or illustrative guide, by means of which he may at any time convince himself, withoutasking his teacher, whether he has correctly committed to memory any one of the above subjects. Even the uninitiated may find these means useful to solve musical problems with which he is not acquainted.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of musical charts, whereby the described objects are attained, as fully described hereinafter, and particularly pointed out in the claims, and as shown in the accompanying three sheets of drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows in perspective the key-board of a piano or like musical instrument having myimproved music-teaching devices attached. Fig. 2 shows in elevation part of the main chart on an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 is a like View of the whole of the main chart, showing the reverse side, and Fig. 4 is a section of the same. Figs. 5, 6, 7,8, and S are elevations of the auxiliary movable charts, the latter figure showing the reverse side of the chart shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 9 illustrates a means of forming the main and other charts in sections for folding.

Like letters of reference are employed to indicate like parts, wherever such may occur in the above drawings.

The various charts may be made of any suitable light matcrial-such as wood veneer, paper-pulp, or wood pulp, sheet metal or analogous substances. I preferably employ card or pasteboard. For conveniently carrying these chartsI makethem in sections hingedtogethcr. so as to adapt them to be folded and carried in the pocket. the well-known means. The sections may be hinged together, like the sections of afoot-rule or folding yard-measure, and folded one over the other or they may be hinged as shown in Fig. 9, and held in position when unfolded by a keeper or small plate, I.

O is the main chart. It is notonly employed for teaching the keys and notes, but also serves as a guide upon which the other charts are moved. This main chart 0 has a number of teeth, 0, formed on both edges, to adapt it for reversal. Thearrangementof the teeth is such that the first and last teeth of the chart will rest on the first and last keys respectively of the key-board of the instrument, while the intervening teeth and the spaces or intervals 0 will not come in contact withthe keys, butwill leave sufficient space to allow them free movement when manipulated. These teeth maybe formed upon one edge only; but inasmuch as the opposite sides of the center of the keyboard are not alike it is necessary to shorten the chart 0 by several teeth, so that it may fit the key-board when turned, and for this reason I prefer to form the teeth upon both edges. As shown in Fig. 2, upon one face the chart 0 shows all the keys of the key-board and their values and musical nomenclature in different styles of expressing the same. It provides a ready means for distinguishing the fundamental from the other notes, and to make this still more apparent I preferably indicate the same in different colors. Upon the opposite side, as shown in Fig. 3, are indicated in two lines all the notes, arranged in octaves, so that the bass and violin notes may be readily distinguished. According to the subject to be taught, one or the other side of the chart is used. Upon one of charts, I) E F.

This may be effected by any of 5, (3, and 7.) They have their edges beveled to fit the groove in the ledge L, as shown in Fig. 4, and adapt them to be reversed. Each of these charts has its special subdivision, the intervals of which correspond with the intervals of the scale it indicates. The chart shown in Fig. 5, for example, indicates the sharpscale, the sharp and dominantor predominant accord. The chart shown by Fig. 6 indicates the melodious minor scale in crescendo as well as diminuendo, as shown by the direction of the arrows to a respectively, and the chart illustrated by Fig.7 indicates the harmonious minor scale, the minor and dominant or predominant accord.

The teaching of the various scales by means of these charts D E F is as follows: For instance,if itis desired to playthe D-sharp scale, the chart D is moved along the groove of the main chart 0 until the number 1 of the former is over the D-key of the latter, and consequently over the like key of the instrument, when the scale from 1 to 7 may then be played. .ln a like manner the charts E and F are used for practicing in and learning the melodious and harmonious minor scales, as well as their respective accords and dominant or predominant accords by manipulating the keys under 1, 3, 5, and 7 for the sharp and minor accord, and those under 2, 4, 5, and 7 for the dominant accord, as indicated by the notes upon the charts, the half-notes of which indicate the sharp and minor accords and the quarter-notes the dominant accord. The reverse sides of the charts D E F indicate not only the different scales which enable the pupil to find the proper key mechanically, but they also indicate these scales by name, notes, and manipulation.

It will be seen that by means of the devices described the various scales in their relations to the different octaves and according to the varying intonations or formations of tone species may be readily comprehended and mastered in a comparatively short time.

The score and transposition chart G, Fig.8, has two note systems, one for the bass and the other for the violin notes most frequently used. The transpositions by means of this chart are effected as follows: For example, if it is desired to transpose into E sharp a piece of music written in C sharp, it is only necessary to move the chart along the main chart until the O-notes are over the E-keys of the latter, and consequently over the corresponding keys of the instrument. The piece may then be played by manipulating the keys under the notes on the tablet irrespective of their real values.

The same side of the chart (3* also serves as a score-chart by moving the Quotes on the tab let over the B-keys in reading the notes of the B-clarionet, and the same notes over the A- keys in reading the notes of the A-elarionet, &c. The other side of the chart G, Fig. 8*, is used for teaching the reading of the notes in the alto and tenor keys, for which purpose the lowest alto note on the tablet is brought over the O-key for the alto series and the lowest tenor note over the G-key for the tenor series, the respective notes of each series being then played in the same manner as in the transposition above described.

It will thus be seen that the main chart (J. having the keys of the key-board delineated upon its faces, is used to indicate to the pupil when the auxiliary charts are in the desired position without looking at the key-board of the instrument, and as the key-indications on said chart correspond exactly with the keys of the instrument when the chart 0 is applied thereto an unerring mechanical means is provided for the operation of the auxiliary charts, through which no mistakes can occur. The study of these various subjects is not only greatly facilitated, but their illustrative and denominating character also facilitate their committal to memory.

The main chart may be supported by any desired means, though this is not necessary, as it may be placed against the back of the key-board.

Having now described my invention, what I claim is l. The herein-described musical chart 0, composed of two or more sections hinged together for folding, and provided on its opposite edges with teeth 0 and a ledge, L, having a wedge-shaped groove therein, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The main chart 0, having ledge L, and provided with teeth 0 on its opposite edges, the end teeth at both edges being longer than the intervening teeth, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. The combination, with the main chart C, having teeth a and ledge L, provided with a wedge-shaped groove, of a chart, D E F G, having one of its edges beveled, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereofI affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' MAXIMILIAE WAGNER.

Witnesses:

GEORGE LOUBIER, BER'rHoLn ROI. 

